Hannon-Dalby Pears loan 'really worked' - Westwood

Olly Hannon-Dalby leaving the field at New Road Worcester carrying water bottles having played his last game on loan for the countyImage source, Getty Images
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Olly Hannon-Dalby was recalled by Warwickshire last week

ByDan Wheeler
BBC Sport, West Midlands
  • Published

Warwickshire head coach Ian Westwood says although it was "uncomfortable" seeing Olly Hannon-Dalby play for Worcestershire, the 38-year-old's short loan at New Road worked out very well.

Hannon-Dalby seamlessly slotted back into the Bears side and took the most wickets in the match as he helped Warwickshire comfortably beat his old side Yorkshire by 377 runs at Edgbaston.

The veteran seamer had been recalled two matches early from his temporary stint with the Pears, where he took 11 wickets in his four appearances, to bolster Warwickshire's injury-hit attack.

He responded with figures of 4-38 and 3-33 against Yorkshire and Westwood said his move to Worcester worked out well for everyone.

"He's bowled as well [against Yorkshire] as he ever has done and [as well as] I've seen him, so I think as uncomfortable as it was seeing him bowling for Worcester, I think it's really worked," Westwood told BBC Radio WM.

"He's incredibly unlucky not to be playing those first few games [with Warwickshire]. We knew that he'd come back in and we would need him at some stage and he's just shown the true quality of not just the bowler but the bloke there to come back in and in those circumstances and bowl like that is testament to him."

Hannon-Dalby's impressive return has given the Bears a timely boost before their next County Championship game against Glamorgan, that starts on Friday at Edgbaston.

Former England all-rounder Chris Woakes and Keith Barker are struggling for fitness and Westwood said Michael Booth was nursing a knee issue but "hoped he was going to be okay".

"He took an impact to the side of the knee, so we're hoping it settles down. It's quite swollen and stiff, but hopefully he's going to do everything that he can to be available," Westwood said.

Olly Hannon-Dalby celebrates with his Warwickshire team-mates after taking a wicket against YorkshireImage source, Getty Images
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Olly Hannon-Dalby took 7-71 in Warwickshire's comprehensive win over Yorkshire by 377 runs